In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia is joined by Monica Tanner to talk about how to reignite connection and intimacy in blended families, why stepfamily myths can damage marriages, and what couples can do to create a stronger, healthier relationship.

They dive into one of the most controversial but important ideas in blended family life: why the couple relationship has to be the priority. Monica explains what that actually looks like in real life, how to support your partner without making it a competition with the kids, and why children benefit from seeing a healthy relationship modeled in the home.

One of the most powerful parts of this episode is Monica’s explanation of repair in relationships. She breaks down what repair means, how couples can come back together after conflict, and why healthy relationships are not conflict-free—they are built through harmony, disharmony, and repair.

If you are a stepmom feeling disconnected in your marriage, exhausted by blended family stress, or unsure how to rebuild closeness with your partner, this episode will remind you that healthy relationships are built, not found.

In this episode:

• How to rebuild connection and intimacy in blended families
• The myth that kids should always come before the marriage
• What it means to make the relationship the priority without neglecting the children
• Why stepfamily structure and united parenting matter

Connect with Monica:

www.monicatanner.com

On Instagram

On YouTube

Support the show

Register here for StepmomCon

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After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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Trigger warning: miscarriage

Infertility is hard. Being a stepmom is hard. Put the two together? Yeah… it’s a whole different level that no one really prepares you for.

In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia sits down with Kristen Skiles to have an honest, emotional, and empowering conversation about infertility as a stepmom—including the heartbreak of a failed IUI cycle.

They dive into the layered experience of wanting a baby while already being a parent figure, the guilt that can come with that, and the identity shifts that happen when motherhood doesn’t look the way you thought it would.

This conversation is for the stepmom who feels torn between gratitude and grief… who loves her stepkids but still deeply wants a child of her own… and who wonders if she’s allowed to feel both.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

• What infertility feels like specifically as a stepmom
• The emotional impact of a failed IUI cycle
• The guilt, comparison, and identity struggles no one talks about
• How infertility can affect your relationship with your partner
• Mindset shifts that help you cope during the hardest moments
• How to hold grief and gratitude at the same time
• A new way to define motherhood beyond biology

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this so hard for me when I already have stepkids?” or “Will I ever feel at peace with this?”—you are not alone.

This episode will help you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone in your journey.

Connect with Kristin:

www.stepmomming.com
Stepmomming Made Easy (Book on Amazon)
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Pinterest

Register here for StepmomCon

Support the show

Register here for StepmomCon

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia talks with Sol Kennedy, founder of the Best Interest co-parenting app, about high-conflict co-parenting, family court, co-parent communication, and how AI can help parents reduce conflict.

Sol shares how his own divorce and co-parenting experience led him to create an app that acts like a buffer between toxic messages and reactive responses. They talk about why the family court system can feel emotionally brutal, how co-parenting apps are usually built for documentation instead of actual peace, and why so many parents and stepparents feel completely drained by ongoing conflict with an ex.

If you are navigating divorce, co-parenting stress, stepparent overwhelm, custody issues, or constant conflict with an ex, this episode will help you think differently about communication, boundaries, and protecting your peace.

In this episode, Alicia and Sol discuss:

• High-conflict co-parenting and emotional triggers
• How AI can support calmer co-parent communication
• The role of co-parenting apps in reducing conflict
• How stepparents absorb stress from bio-parent conflict
• Why “being the bigger person” feels exhausting
• How slowing down communication can protect your peace

Connect with Sol Kennedy:

founder@bestinterest.app

Use code STEPMOMSIDE - $10 off a Protect subscription

Best Interest App on iOS

Best Interest App on Android

Follow Best Interest on Instagram

Support the show

Register here for StepmomCon

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.